Rag doll



Sept. 27, 1949. D. M. SANDERS ETAL. 2,433,325

RAG DOLL Filed May 14, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ina/enter Dorothy Mae Sanders Ida \l. Avey D. M. SANDERS ET AL Sept. 27, 1949.

RAG DOLL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1947 Inventor Dorothy Mae Sanders Ida V A'vey Sept. 27, 1949. o. M. SANDERS ETAL 2,433,325

RAG DOLL Filed May 14, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Fly I 5 Inventor Dorothy Mae Sanders V. Avey Ida Fig

Patented Sept. 27, 1949 T OFF-ICE RAG DOLL Dorothy Mae sander-s and-Ida. v. Avey, SanMarcos, Tex..

V Application-May 14, 1947, Serial No. $17,896

s 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in rag dolls An object oflthis invention is to provide a thoroughly flexible stuife'd cloth doll having multi-sectionall eg' and arm members, said sections forming a portion of and extendingv over a selected segment of the body portion.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved means for forming the desired bulges in the leg and arm sections, utilizingsbut a single seam on each side of each leg and arm.-

A further object of this invention is to provide improved simulated ears'formed by proper folds and seams giving the appearance of a closely approximated human ear.

A still further object of this invention is to provide improved means for retaining eyes, nose and 'mouth portions within the lieadlsection of the doll.

A stili further object of'tliisf invention is to provide resilient means for urging the leg sec tions in selected, predetermined directions.

A still further object of'this invention is to,

provide improved simulated feet members having a single toe disconnected from the remainder of the toes in order that Walking might be faciIitated.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved means for forming simmated air on the head portion of 6.011. I s

Other objects and features of novelty will become apparent in following the description or the preferred embodiment of the preser'itinverition, illustrated in the accompanying drawing's, wherein: Y

Figure lis a pictorial'view of a preferred'ernbodiment of the present invention, showing the same inra sitting position;

gure 2: is a pictorial view of the invention shown in Figure 1, showing the same inia. walking position;

Figure 3is' a fragmentary 'elevational view ofand mouth retaining means'forming' part ofthe present invention Figures 5 and 6'are pieces or' patterns used in forming the body portion oi'the invention;

Figures 7'and s are leg segments used in forming' the legs of the'iiivelitionf and Figures 9 and 10' are head pieces forming part 1 of the present invention;

" the invention;

Figure- 11- is a schem'atic view showing the anplication-of a'selected one of said head pieces;

Figures :12 and 13 are hand patterns;

Figuresld and lo-are portions of the feet of ferrediembodiment ofthe present invention, like reference charactersare used throughout to indi cate similar elementsi 'Ihe body portion of the dollis coniposed of a I plurality of pieces which are identified in shape in thedrawings. It-is noted at this point that the pieces and patterns therefor will be identical in shape,' and accordingly the words pi eces and fpattrnsftvill be used throughout the spec portions of the casing form ification to indicate ing. the doli. The front body pattern Hi exemplifies only hair f the frontportion of the torso, another piece identical to the piece disclosed in Figure 5. torbe utilized in conjunction therewith to form the completed external front. The dotted-Ilines Ii -and I 4; respectively, indicate externalseanis for receivingthe end portions l and 20;? respectively, of arm members 22 and 24 thereoh. These arm members are received on the body portion after the saidbody portion is fabricated and stone 7 Taking Figure 6, there is discloseda back portionjofthe torso 2 6,1'iav'ing a dotted seam 28 extending arcu'ately therethrough. A portion of the e ge it"(Fig. l6) eng'agesthe said seam li-ne 23; while the extremities 30 and 32 are matched and joined in forming the body portion. The exterior edges of the patterns disclosed in Figures 5 aiidTG are matched and sewed or otherwise joined, thereby forming the body and neck portioiis of the rag doll. Of course, only one piece or' pattern ofithe' front and back are disclosed, the invention requiring a duplication of these elements to form the body.

viewing Fignrese to 11; there are disclosed" head elements. The said element 36 forms a por: tion or the nkat 46, white the extremities and 44 form the chin, cheeks and side's'of the" head of the rag doll; The tab 46 extends down the. front .ofth'e body portion beneath the" two front body'r'n'embers it). An arcuate extension 48 provided opposite the said tab it is utilised forming a portion of the mouth of the invention. A similar tab 50 is provided at one extremity of the pattern 38 which cooperates with said arouate portion 48. The pattern 38 extends over the head portion of the doll forming the forehead, front face and a portion of the cheeks. This portion is generally indicated by the reference numeral 52. The bulge 54 forms the back portion of the head, while the tab 56 extends beneath the patterns of the back 26, being fixedly secured at the bottom thereof.

The extended neck (tabs 46 and 56) is left open until th head is stuffed, then the sides of the tabs are stitched together and the resulting tube is stuffed and the longest tab fastened across the bottom and stitched to keep the stuffing in. The neck is then put through the neck of the unstuffed body torso.

Leg portions 58 and 60, respectively, are provided for forming legs of the invention. It will be noted at this point that the lowermost portion of the body is provided with a seat element 62 for the purpose of stufiing the body after the same has been fabricated. This member 62 is secured to the body portion after stuffing, then is hidden from sight by application of the leg members which will be described at this time.

A single piece 58 is secured to the lowermost rearward portion of the body member forming the back portion of both legs. A dart B4 is provided at the center of said back leg portion 58, thereby imparting both the desired configuration and the desired fit in forming this portion of the invention. It will be noted at this point that the member 58, along with the member 22, is cut on the bias for facilitating bending when the rag dolls arms and legs are moved; The substantially straight edge-6S is secured to the lower front portion of the body member by means of an external seam. The uppermost portion 68 of the said leg piece 69 is secured to the said lowermost portion of the front of the body portion, the edge 68 and a portion of the edge 6'6 forming a substantially straight line. The marginal portions I and I2, respectively, engage appropriate marginal portions of the member 53, thereby forming the legs of the doll.

Simulated feet are provided at the extremity of each leg. Taking Figures 14 and 15, alongwith Figures '7 and 8, there is seen a dart '14 at the bottom of the said leg elements 58 and a dart I extending longitudinally of the pattern of the'top portion of the foot 18. The said dart 14 is joined at the lower portion of each leg, while the dart I6 is utilized to encircle the lowermost portion of the entire ankle. The edges 80 meet at the conjunction of the said dart I4, thereby forming a continuation of the seam formed. The bottom portion of the foot 82 is suitably curved to be complemental to the member I8. Simulated toes 84 are sewed together at the terminal portions thereof, and a seam is provided to separate the four smaller toes. It will be noted that the larger toe 86 is disconnected from the remainder of the toes 84, thereby facilitating walking, which operation will be described hereinafter.

The arm members 22 and 24 are joined to the body portion as described hereinbefore, and upper and lower hand portions 88 and 90, respectively are utilized for the purpose of providing the usual simulated hands. The edges 92 and 94 engage the straight edges 96 and 98 of the patterns 22 and 24, respectively, thereby forming a baby-like wrist and hand. Seams are provided for the purpose of defining fingers I00, while a thumb portion I02 extends in disconnected relation therewith. A pleat I94 is provided at the lower hand portion adjacent and through the wrist elements thereof. This pleat simulates the usual hand lines of a child. Further, very small stitches I as are provided in the upper hand element simulating dimples or knuckles found in an infants hands.

Referring now to Figure 18, there is disclosed a pattern which is longitudinal having an arcuate end I08 and a slanted opposite end IID. This pattern may be folded, then sewed in the appropriate place to form an extremely realistic ear having the usual creases and channels provided in the human ear. Of course, the ears are sewed in an appropriate place on the head elements.

Taking Figure 19 now, there is a nose pattern H2 which resembles the usual insignia of a gem. It will be noted that the edges II4 are both cut on a bias and are adapted to be folded under the main portion and stuffed, thereby providing a nose element.

Taking now Figures 1 and 2, it will be noted that the hair of the ra doll is composed of satin stitches beginning at the center of the wig, then formed in the usual concentric saddle stitch manner. The extremities of the hair, generally indicated at I20 may be'iree to curl in bangs, or any suitable hair appearance.

Taking now Figure 4, there is disclosed a means for retaining the eyes, nose and mouth in the selected, predetermined positions. An anchor plate I22 is provided in the head portion of the rag doll and strings I24 extend from said anchor plate to the eyes, nose and mouth. It is noted at this point that this invention contemplates the use of two additional strings for the purpose of providing dimples in the cheeks of the rag doll if so desired. This, however, is purely an optional construction to be dictated by the prerogatives of the manufacturer.

Secured to the seams of the leg elements is a resilient leg biasing means I26 (see Fig. 3) for the purpose of returning the legs to the operative or t-orso-and-leg alignment position, when moved for walking. By this construction, and resilient means secured to the seams and the lowermost portion of the body member, the doll may be walked on a relatively rough surface, such as a rug. This walking operation per se'is known in the art and may be seen inFig'ure 2.

It is noted in Figure 3 that bulges I28 and 30 are provided in the leg portions. Bulges are also provided (unnumbered) in the arm portions. The method of constructing these bulges is extrem-ely simple, obviatin all sewing operations except a single seam on each side of said legs and arms. The first pattern, assume it is the back portion of the leg, is cut at a slight curve, then the upper portion or front of theleg is laid thereon. A dart is cut in the said front portion, while the said front portion is pulled slightly, thereby opening the dart. In this position, the two segments are sewed together and turned inside out. This provides the indentation I32, thereby defining the bulges I28 and I38.

Simulated eyelashes andeyebrows may be provided on the face of the doll and it is the preferable construction to provide insert portions I34 with simulated blue or brown eyes thereon.

These inserts may be sewed in place and subsestraight. This choice of cut permits certain movements such as moving the legs, arms and neck Without tending to tear the seams or destroy the material. The upper portions of the hands are also cut on the bias, giving the desired curvature and roundness to the fingers and hand.

While there has been described and illustrated an improved stuffed doll, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that certain alterations may be made therein Without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, limitation is sought only in accordance with the scope of the following claim.

Having thus described the present invention, what is claimed as novel and improved is as follows:

A flexible stufied cloth doll comprising a casing having a multi-piece body portion, arm and leg pieces for forming part of said body portion, a multi-piece head section having segments of two of said head pieces providing a mouth for said head section, eye and nose members in one of said head pieces, means for retaining said eye and nose members in position, bulges in said leg pieces, resilient means attached to said leg pieces ofiset from the longitudinal axis of the legs for urging said leg pieces in aligned position relative to the longitudinal axis of said body portion, simulated hair comprising rows of strands on the head section, said eyes and nose retaining means including a plate in said head section having strings secured thereto connecting said eyes and nose members to said plate, said leg pieces out on the bias thereby facilitating bending at the joints thereof.

DOROTHY MAE SANDERS.

IDA V. AVEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

